July 2, 2014

Hanging out with their Maasai camp guard (Eben Reckord)

Craig John reports that the Kili team made it down safely, had a nice wrap up BBQ in Moshi after the climb, and after a well-deserved rest have now begun the safari.  The little Arusha airport is the gateway to the vast Serengeti, and the Cessna 208 Caravan is the workhorse airplane.  It may be only a 45 minute flight, but it is like going back in time.  I always thought of it as what the Great Plains of the USA must have looked like 200 years ago when they were covered with bison.  The IMG team will be doing our super authentic luxury camping safari the next three days with their own drivers and camp/cook staff….not standing in the buffet line at a lodge with 200 other tourists.  When you post a Maasai tribesman as a camp guard (with a lantern and a spear) during the night, to shoo away the animals, you are not in Kansas anymore!

Eric Simonson

June 30, 2014

Team on top.

The summit – again!  Congratulations are in order to Craig John and his team of Chagga and climbers.  100% on the summit at Uhuru.  Weather was perfect and the team’s already back at camp at Mweka (10,000 ft).  Did you notice the Ice Terraces on the right side of the photograph?  Pretty cool stuff.

Tomorrow’s a short day.  They’ll be at the trailhead about noon.  An evening of celebration with Chagga guides at the hotel and then off for 3 nights of safari the following morning.  It’s about as sweet as a trip can get!

Phil Ershler